Unit 23 Muledeer Hunt

[brettwilm]

A few pics from Unit 23 Muledeer Hunt. Muley's were scarce; only one of three of us tagged out. Gorgeous country though, Tonto National Forest north of Salt River and between Sierra Ancho Wilderness Area and the White Mountains / Fort Apache Reservation. We took FS 203 (Cherry Creek Rd) off Hwy 288, camped first night on Black Mesa (a good ways up FS 3271), second night up the 203 below Bronco Canyon (there are pre-historic cliff dwellings nearby), and the rest of the time up FS 202 past Rock House on FS 120 below Castle Peak. Worst trail I experienced was FS 2852 which I attempted--but aborted--trying to reach Pendleton Mesa. Overall the truck held up fine but I did experience some mysterious electrical issues towards the end of the trip. See here for my extended range mod which kept me from worrying about running out of gas somewhere NE of Young.

First campsite on Black Mesa (FS 3271)

Roosevelt Lake from FS 3271 campsite

FS 3271 on Black Mesa looking NE back at Cherry Creek Rd

Salt River below Black Mesa

Side canyon on Black Mesa

Hunting on Black Mesa. Still optimistic (I did not get a deer this year).

Up FS 203 looking down at Cherry Creek and up at Bronco Canyon. Beyond here (a place called Devil's Chasm) the road gets pretty bad.

Cherry Creek downstream from Devil's Chasm

Trail to Cherry Creek from a corral on FS 203. Was not taking my truck down that.

Relaxing at camp up FS 203.

Looks like we're limited to 10 photos per post so I'll have to post pics from up FS 202 into elk country separately.
Cheers,
Brett